Court OKs Maryland Reporter Ban (Repub. Gov. 'Freezes Out' Journalists)

[truthpusher]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/14/national/main674153.shtml

Court OKs Maryland Reporter Ban

BALTIMORE, Feb. 14, 2005


Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich (Photo: AP)

(AP) A federal judge ruled Monday that Gov. Robert Ehrlich can freeze out two reporters from The Baltimore Sun by barring all state employees from talking to the journalists.

(snip)

Sun editor Tim Franklin called the ruling "scary" and said the newspaper would seek an expedited hearing from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Essentially, what the court is saying is that it's OK for a politician to create an enemies list," Franklin said. "It's not only unconstitutional, it's undemocratic."

(snip)

Ehrlich last fall barred state employees from talking to The Sun's State House bureau chief David Nitkin and columnist Michael Olesker. The governor said the two journalists were not objectively covering his administration. Ehrlich views the two metropolitan daily newspapers serving Maryland, The Sun and The Washington Post, as liberal and pro-Democratic.

complete story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/14/national/main674153.shtml

[Ready4Change]

1. "He's a little Bush-Bot, short and stout...

There is his ego, look at him pout."

Poor baby. Can't take criticism. Boo hoo. Reporters are so MEAN.

:cry:

Message to Ehrlich: If you can't take public scrutiny, get out of office.

YOU serve US, not the other way around.

[UL_Approved]

2. Reported on CBS, but not taken too seriously

This is just the kind of non-disclosure crap that people get pushed into in this country after they hit the panic button.

CBS just isn't going to lay down after the Dan Rather scandal. That was still questionable to this day, and the supposed "debunking" was only for not having an "official" verification of the facts from Bush people.

This is good. The use of the MSM is getting to be dangerous for true journalists. But our latest episode here is a stunning example of the widespread cover-up. I worry that we WILL fall to a NAZI-style dictatorship in the next four years.

And so what if "liberal newspapers" are reporting. Can't the fool just get an interview with FOX to "clear things up"? What about counter-spin? Or has the little bastard gone so far that the facts will still implicate him? That is the real question.

[truthpusher]

3. Story also ran on ABC & Yahoo....

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=499751&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050215/ap/d888kmq00.html

[UL_Approved]

12. Good

Its nice to see some other sources running it.

I didn't dig for these, but they are important. Thank you.

[Rose Siding]

4. "Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe."

Thomas Jefferson, spinning.

[punpirate]

5. After that photo...

... expect all AP photographers to be persona non grata, as well.... :P

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. really bad hairpiece too

[truthpusher]

14. Looks worried...he may have been put up to this? n/t

[hootinholler]

20. He's more worried about OMalley eating his lunch.

We need to get rid of the DREs here. Md is totally DRE.

-Hoot

[Eric J in MN]

6. Conservative leaders think they own the whole govt.,

not just the political wing.

What a disgusting excuse for a governor.

I hope the people of Maryland realize they shouldn't vote Republian anymore.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Its the free speech of the state employees which is being

infringed on, more than that of the reporters.

Can a governor tell a random state employee, "You are hereby banned from talking to your wife?"

[Rose Siding]

10. Isn't it larger than that?

Suppose McClellan suddenly revoked passes for the NYT, the WP, Knight Ridder- all because the admin felt that it isn't treated fairly in their coverage? Suddenly the press room is full of Fox News and Washington Times reporters and any others who consistently present the govt in a favorable light.

[Eric J in MN]

11. You're right, it's that too.

I'm just saying that the judge's argument that reporters don't have more right to talk to state employees than other people isn't the only issue.

Maryland law doesn't give the governor the power to tell any/every state employee whom to talk to (as far as I know).

[Eric J in MN]

9. Where is it written in Maryland law, that the governor can tell

every state employee to do whatever he wants?

[LynneSin]

13. Thanks Erhlich, I now know I'm definately driving to Maryland....

..to help get your ass ousted from the statehouse.

I'm thinking Martin O'Malley is going to make mincemeat of you in 2006. Time to get this idiot Erhlich out of office before he ruins the rest of Maryland

[GalleryGod]

19. Gun Lobby Bobby Used to Be my Congressman!

Wait until you see a picture of his dyed blonde perfect Wifey and the kids!:puke: :puke:

[LynneSin]

21. You use to live in Maryland

Geez, I never knew that

[LinuxInsurgent]

15. This is scary...it's Unamerican...

it's untransparent as well...

Welcome to Fascist USA...ONLY JEFF GANNON's are legitiamte reporters...up is down, black is white, Orwell lives!

[paineinthearse]

16. QUARLES' biography

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND

----------------------------------------------------------------------

WILLIAM D. QUARLES, JR., Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, since March 24, 2003.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland, 1982-86. Deputy coordinator and coordinator, Presidential Task Force on Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement, 1984-85. Member, Law Revision Commission, District of Columbia, 1989-91. Member, Governor's Commission on Service, 1994-95. Associate Judge, Baltimore City Circuit Court, 8th Judicial Circuit, November 18, 1996 to March 24, 2003. Member, Technology Oversight Board, 1999-2003. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 16, 1948. Attended Baltimore City College; University of Maryland, Baltimore, B.S., 1976; Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, J.D., 1979. Admitted to District of Columbia Bar, 1979; Maryland Bar, 1991. Member, American, National, Maryland State, Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Monumental City Bar Associations. Law clerk to Judge Joseph C. Howard, U.S. District Court, 1979-81. Venable, Baetjer and Howard (associate, 1986-87; equity partner, 1988-96). Board member, Loyola-Notre Dame Library Corporation, 1994-95. Past member, Executive Council of Parents, Loyola College. Instructor, U.S. Attorney General's Advocacy Institute, 1984-85; Maryland Institute for Continuing Education of Lawyers, 1985-. Co-author, Summary Adjudication: Dispositive Motions and Summary Trials (1991). U.S. Attorney General's Special Achievement Award, 1984.
Office: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

[Supersedeas]

22. the man who wrote the book on summary trials puts words into practice

[smoogatz]

17. Freedom of the Press

What are you worried about? They're perfectly free to write what we tell them to.

[GalleryGod]

18. Gun Lobby Bobby-still riding shotgun over the First Amendment!

!@@#$%^^&*( Puker!:puke: